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In May 2023 wildfires in northern Alberta, Canada caused significant impact on air quality as thick smoke engulfed areas across Canada and the United States. On May, 17th, 2023, the day this photograph was taken, the Air Quality Health Index from the Government of Canada measured 10+, the highest rating possible. Photo by Dwayne Reilander - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132070486
04 Jun 2025

Will smoky skies be the new normal? Canadian wildfires are again causing air quality alerts in large parts of the US

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The Canadian fire season 2025 has started and with it may come problems with air quality for potentially millions of people not directly affected by the fires. Canada's vast forests has a lot of fuel available, and climate change is making the northern forests more vulnerable. 

 

Photo Credit: 
In May 2023 wildfires in northern Alberta, Canada caused significant impact on air quality as thick smoke engulfed areas across Canada and the United States. On May, 17th, 2023, the day this photograph was taken, the Air Quality Health Index from the Government of Canada measured 10+, the highest rating possible. 
Photo by Dwayne Reilander - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132070486

 

Smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to spread across the United States, bringing hazardous air quality conditions to multiple states. As of Tuesday, 203 active wildfires are burning in Canada, with 107 classified as "out of control", according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

The smoky skies eerily reminds residents of the summer of the 2023 Canadian Fire season when the skies literally darkened in areas very far from the actual fires, due to the sheer volume of fires.  

According to ABC News, the smoke from the 2025 wildfires in Canada that started in late May, has traveled as far south as the Gulf Coast, affecting visibility and air quality in the Midwest, Northeast, and parts of the Southern US

While some areas are experiencing only mild haze, states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are facing unhealthy air conditions, prompting air quality alerts.

In Minneapolis, air quality ranked among the worst in the world on Tuesday June 3rd, with officials warning residents of potential health risks, including eye irritation, respiratory issues, and chest tightness. Rain is expected to provide temporary relief, but forecasters caution that additional heavy smoke could return later in the week.

Fox News and CBS News reported that smoke from Canadian wildfires has triggered air quality alerts in New York City on Wednesday June 4th. 

 

Are smoky skies in the summer North America's 'new normal'?

A recent article in the Michigan free press discusses how Canadian wildfire smoke is becoming a regular part of the summers in the Northern US, driven by climate change, rising temperatures, and prolonged droughts

Researchers warn that larger, more intense wildfires will continue to send smoke into the US due to air circulation patterns.

Chad Papa, director of the forest carbon and climate program at Michigan State University’s Department of Forestry, cautions that worsening smoke conditions may become a lasting issue. 

"I don't think it's uncertain that the kind of smoke conditions we have observed more recently might be the new norm we observe going forward," he stated.

 

Can too much fire suppression make forest fires worse over time?

Chad Papa suggests the this shift is driven by several overlapping factors: 

Human-induced climate change is raising summer temperatures and reducing soil moisture, especially in the heavily forested western U.S. and Canada, where drought conditions have become increasingly severe (which have not historically experienced as much fires as areas in warmer climates).

Additionally, over a century of fire suppression aimed at protecting homes and businesses has disrupted the natural cycle of smaller wildfires, leading to an excessive buildup of fire fuel.

The result has been larger, more intense wildfires consuming vast areas in North America, reinforcing concerns that wildfire smoke may become a recurring feature of summer months in regions frequently affected by these fires.

Canada, along with the Western US, has a lot of fuel in their forests, which is becoming more and more vulnerable as summers are getting drier. 

According to the Michigan Press Press,  Canada is home to 1.4 million square miles of forested land. (362 million hectares, or 3,6 million km2.)